Retaining device for filing cabinets



May 12; 19251- 1537394 F. c. SMITH RETAINING DEVICE FOR FILING CABINETS v Q Filed Sept. 29; 1923 WITNESSES INVENTOR I 7 f6: jmz l z, 2241/: w By 1 Mk6 ATTORNEYS Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics.

FRANK c. sMI'rH, or TAMPA, FLORIDA.

RETAINING DEVICE FOR FILING CABINETS.

Application filed September 29, 1923. Serial No. 665,712.

7 '0 all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, FRANK C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Tampa, in the county of I-Iillsborough and State of Florida, have invented a new and Improved Retaining Device for Filing Cabinets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrlptlon.

This invention relates to filing cabinets ing device of this character which greatly facilitates the operation of looking or releasing the files, cards or other contentsln place and minimizes the time and labor incident thereto.

As a further object the invention contemplates a retaining device for the contents of filing cabinets which 1s comparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation, inexpensive to manufacture and produce, and which is highlyefficient J in its operation. 1

lVith the above-recited and other objects in View theinvention resides in the novel 30 construction, combination and arrangement.

of the parts set forth in the following specification, pointed out in the claimsand illustrated in the accompanying. drawings, it being understood that variations and s5 modifications which properly fall within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when found expedient.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a filing cabinet equipped with a with the invention; V

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof; 1

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the locking means which coacts with the lock bar;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective vlew of the intere-ngageable means on the lock bar which cooperates therewith;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating the lock bar in locked position relative to the file, card or other contents of the filing cabinet.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, designates generally a filconsists ofa fiat lock retaining means constructed in accordance ing cabinet or drawer having front and rear walls 11 and 12 and side walls 13 which connect the front and rear walls and are connected with a bottom 14 which is slotted as .at 15 from the front .tothe rear wall. The cards, files or other contents 16 are preferably provided with a guide 17 at the lower edge or that edge which is designed to rest upon the bottom of the cabinet or drawer. The guide 17 is formed with an open ring 18, and the lower edge,

of the guide which projects below the lower edge of the file or card 16 is adapted to pro ect into the slot 15. The retaining device, which constitutes the invention and cooperates with the card, file or other contents constructed as heretofore set forth,

bar 19 which is provided with a trunnion 20 at its rear end ournaled in the bearing opening 21 in the rear wall 12 to allow for both turning and longitudinal sliding movements of the lock bar. In its forward end the lock bar is provided which is designed to r-eceivethe threaded extremity 23 of ashort shaft section 24:

journaled in the bearing opening 25 in the front wall 11 for rotary and sliding movements. The shaft section 24 projects through the bearing opening 25 and is provided at its outer free end with a manipulatlng knob or handlel26. The said shaft sectlon 24; further functions when threadedly associated with the socket 22 of the lock bar 19 as a second trunnion. The trunnion 20 also projects rearwardly beyond the rear wall 12 and its free outer end is engaged by leaf spring 27 which normally exerts a force to effect a forward sliding movement of the lock bar. At its forward end the lock bar 19 is provided with teeth 28, preferably two in number, which extend beyond the forward end of the socket 22 and are dlsposed at diametrically opposite points. A locking plate '29, which is in the nature of a disk provided with diametrically projectlng ears 30, is' attached by screws or other fastening devices 31 tothe inner side of the front wall 11, the centralaperture 32 thereof being designed to align with the bearing openlng 25 to permit of the projection of the shaft section 24 tlleretl'irough. The disk or plate 29 is provided in its inner face with right-angularly disposed pairs of aligned notches 33 and 34 which are adapted to rewith an internal threaded socket 22' ceive the teeth 28 of the lock bar when the ,tbe readily,manipulated towlock -or release ;;the: lock bar-by rearward pressure on the -knob.,or..handle 26 against-the/action of the spring 27 untilethe teeth 28 are retracted from; the notches r 33 or v34. lVhen so re-- V tracted,. the J operator by turning't-he knob .26 may dispose the lock bar with its major I length -vertic.al whereby the opening defined by the guide; ring -18 may align with the :.minor thickness of the'bar'to permit of the withdrawahof the carchi'file or other con tents. After the withdrawal-and replace ment of the file or card, the turning of the lock barby theknob 26 to bring the teeth 28 a into registry-with the notches 33wvill ,permit the spring 27, to function to reengage. the teeth- 28 with the said notches to hold- ;'-the. lockbar in locked relation totheguide rin 18.

JiVhat-lbclaim is: 1.;IIhe combination with aifiling receptacle,fiof atretaining member mounted there- ;in ,fori longitudinal shifting and rotary; I

ofthe lock bar andxtherforwardrend of the movements, meansoperable upon movement of said member-in one direction for locking the same ,against rotation, means-fornormally;;effe(': t1ng: longitudinal movement of said member-fin, a direction for locking the same against rotation -and meansconnected :with said member andextending through -the receptacle to permit of manual shifting of said, member longitudinally in the oppo-a site direction'whereby to release and rotatev I the; same.

-,2,= A ret aining device for the contents of filing cabinets, comprising a fiat lock bar extending -,l ongitudi nally. .of the cablnet and 1 mounted therein for longitudinal and rotary wmovements, manipulating means extending. 5Q

throughthe forward end of the cabinet for manually effecting rearward; sliding and ro- ,-tary movement of the lock bar, (means pro- -j vided respectively at the forward end of the lock barand the forwardendof the cabinet adapted for interengagement. to vretain the.

baragainstrotation and means for normal- 1y efl'ectingihe interengagement of said means.

filing cabinets,comprising a flat lock bar extending longitudinally of the cabinet and mounted therein for longitudinal and rotary movements, manipulating means exforward longitudinal shifting movement of the;lockbar to interengage said teeth with {the notches.

4. The combination with a filing cabinet and articles adapted tobe filed therein, each of which articles is provided adjacent its lower edge with a portion having a substantially keyhole-shaped opening through "the lower-edge ofsaid portion, of a device for cooperating :with saidportion for retaining the articles within the cabinet or for releasing the same,.comprising a flat lock bar extending longitudinally of the cabinet adjacent the bottom thereof andmounted therein for longitudinal and rotary :movements, manipulating means protruding through the forward end of the cabinet for manually effecting the rearward sliding and rotary movements of the lock bar, means provided respectively at theuforward end cabinet adapted upon interengagement. to t filing receptacles consistingof a member having a rotary and reciprocatory ,movement in said receptacle, means associated with one wall of the receptacle and adapted for engagement with the member to prevent rotary movement thereof, andnleans associated with said ,member and adapted to move the same. longitudinallyvto maintain voperative engagement thereof with the firstmentionedmeans.

- 6. A retaining means for the contents of filing receptacles consisting of aunember ,mounted therein for longitudinal and rotary movements, stationary means capable of being engaged by saidmember to prevent rotary movement of said member, and means for normally effecting longitudinal movement of said member toengage. the same with the first-mentioned means.

FRANK C. SMITH. 

